Young Love
November 4th, 1996
My Dear Jack,
I am writing you without any form of judgement towards your actions. I just want to understand your actions.
What in the world could compel you to leave the safety of Hogwarts? You are an adult now, and you can do as you please. I cannot stop you, but as your mother I do believe I am owed at least a small explanation.
Your father and I love you very much,
-Mummy
Belle handed the letter to her son's owl and she watched it fly out the shop window. She placed her head into her hands. Her son had attempted to sneak out of Hogwarts in the middle of the night and Belle had received his detention notice two days before. She'd pondered over how to discuss it with him.
She knew what it was like to desire to run away. She also knew she hadn't raised him like she'd been raised. He'd been raised with love and with genuine affection.
Yes, sometimes Ed didn't always understand things, but he was a good father who would take a bullet for his son.
Belle wondered as always, if she'd given her children too much freedom. Could that be the problem?
It had been a hell of a year. After Sammy's protests from the last year and the constant Death Eater attacks in Diagon Alley, she was feeling exceptionally drained. Ollivander's shop beside her own had been attacked and Ollivander hadn't been seen since. She and her daughter had been in the shop that day, both crouching behind her counter, both terrified.
She and Ed were constantly preparing to go into hiding. They were going to give their children the choice to go with them to America again or stay at Hogwarts. Jack was an adult and could technically do as he pleased, but they elected Sammy would still have the choice between Hogwarts and America.
There had been a slight influx in orders again. Professor Slughorn had been teaching and had restarted his Slug Club. Belle knew too well the club always included parties and dress robes.
Sammy had been accepted into the little club, but Jack had not. Belle was slightly shocked by this, considering Slughorn had always really liked Belle and the Brennas.
This was mostly explained by Sammy who said Jack had made a bad impression with Slughorn who didn't realize they were Belle's children at first. He had invited her to the club based on her reputation in journalism. It was only after he met her that she revealed her lineage, which was awkward for poor Sammy who had never told her friends.
Belle looked down to the blank page beneath her, she was at a slight loss for ideas at the moment. Her daughter needed dress robes for the Slughorn Christmas party and she'd finally found the time to think of something for her. She'd finished the other orders, including one for Slughorn himself, but she was feeling drained after writing the letter to her son.
The bell to the store sounded and Belle looked up to see Mr. Lee Jordan with coffee in both of his hands. Belle wasn't entirely sure what his relationship was to her daughter anymore. Samantha kept insisting it was now plutonic. She'd broken up with him indefinitely, but they'd remained friends.
He lived on the alley with the Weasley twins who had recently opened a joke shop. He worked with them during the mornings and then at an internship at the WWN the rest of the day. Since the summer ended, he'd made the occasional habit of bringing her a coffee.
She wasn't sure he was who she would really want dating her daughter, but she didn't mind him. He was nothing like his quiet father, but he was a sweet young man.
"Hello Mrs. Fyre." He greeted handing her a coffee.
"Hello Lee, what chaos are you getting into today?" Belle asked with a smirk taking her coffee cup.
Lee shrugged but gave an impish smirk, "Electra and I are prepping for an interview with Spellbound for the show tonight."
"That's exciting." Belle said with a chuckle. Spellbound was a band of witches that Sammy sometimes listened to. She was under the impression she preferred the Weird Sisters, but Spellbound was definitely on the list.
"Yeah, the twins are jealous of course." Lee laughed with a roll of his eyes. "But I think those ladies are a bit too much drama for me."
Belle rolled her eyes and made a fake pouting face, "I think it's because you left your heart behind at Hogwarts."
On his first broadcast he'd been asked if he were single. He responded by saying he had a special someone, but the girl wanted to focus on her education, so he was single and heartbroken.
Lee crossed his arms, "Never going to let that one go are you?"
"Nope." Belle said in return, "That is my daughter you were talking about, and need I remind you she was mortified. I have to deal with her letters of mortification, you don't. I'm entitled to jabs about it for the rest of my life."
"I suppose that is true." He laughed, "So what's on your agenda for the day Mrs. Fyre?"
Belle looked down to her empty sketch pad, "More dress robes of course. How much do I owe you for the coffee Lee?"
Lee smirked, "A date with your daughter?"
"Unfortunately, I don't control her love life anymore than I control either of my children's choices." Belle said and shrugged, "So how about money?"
"It's on me today then, you can pay for them next time." He smirked before turning to leave.
"Fine."
Lee left the shop and Belle looked down to her empty sketchpad. She took a drink of her coffee, it tasted a bit like cinnamon today.
She didn't have the heart to tell him Sammy seemed, at least in writing, quite over him. Sammy had expressed multiple times that she really did just want to focus on her education. She often referred to Lee in her letters as, "the distraction."
Sammy was going to need a date for the Slug Christmas party, but Belle had a weird feeling she would probably just bring her buddy Colin. Colin was someone who had little to no chance of ever dating Samantha, but she spoke highly of him.
Now she just needed to design her something to wear. Lee had nicely distracted her from her woes about Jack, so maybe her creativity would come back.
She looked down to the paper, nothing was arriving.
The slight woes of young love continued racing through her mind. Maybe Jack had a girlfriend?Was he hiding one or something? Maybe that's why he was sneaking out and had been despondent? Maybe he was just sneaking out for a midnight snog?
The bell to the store rang again and in stepped Augusta Longbottom.
"Hello Belle." Augusta called in, the wrinkles in her forehead were narrower than normal.
Belle was slightly shocked to see her, "Augusta, what a nice surprise to see you today. Here for a new hat?"
The wrinkles furrowed more as she made it to the counter. "No, shockingly I need new dress robes for Neville."
"Ah, did he get into the Slug club?" Belle asked with a smile and sipped at her coffee.
Augusta shook her head before responding, "No, but he was asked as a date to the Christmas party, which you can expect was a bit of a surprise for me. Then again, I didn't expect him to go fighting Death Eaters in the Ministry either."
Bell laughed remembering how she'd been so worried that her daughter would have done that.
"He hasn't needed dress robes since fourth year and I doubted he'd ever need those again. I have current measurements." Augusta handed Belle a paper.
"Any design or color you'd prefer for him?" Belle asked looking it over, she hadn't seen the young man in person since he had come in for robes for the Yule Ball over two years prior. He was still quite the lump of a boy and unfortunately looked very little like his mother.
Augusta put her hands on her hips and looked around the shop, "Not particularly. Nothing too trendy, and possibly not too expensive."
Belle chuckled, simple lines would probably be best.
"What color is his date wearing?" Belle asked as she waved her wand and her pencil began sketching.
"I haven't the foggiest, I don't think he thought to ask. He didn't ask for the Yule Ball and the poor boy didn't match little Miss Weasley at all." Augusta shook her head.
"Oh I forgot he went with Ginny. She's my Sammy's best friend, I helped the poor little thing fix up the most ghastly old dress robes." Belle chuckled remembering her daughter's little friend's face light up with absolute joy.
Sammy had written saying she was going to try fixing the robes up for her, but although Sammy was strong in Transfiguration, she was no artist. Her friend deserved practiced hands. Belle wouldn't have admitted why she was so honored to help Ginny, considering who's niece she was. Belle had seen Ginny's soft brown eyes and remembered a young man with the same ones. It meant the world to Belle that Sammy and Ginny cared so much for each other.
Augusta looked down to the sketch, "It is my understanding you have been helping young ladies feel exquisite for quite a while."
Belle's pencil stopped sketching as she remembered a smile that had etched across a beautiful face and ears that had turned pink.
"Belle?" Augusta said breaking her from her memory. "Are you quite alright dear?"
Belle nodded before hearing the pencil start to sketch again. "Quite alright. Sorry, bit tired today. A lot of people are going to this Christmas party, so I've had quite a few robes to design."
"I appreciate you finding the time for me." Augusta confessed kindly placing a few Galleons on the counter. "Downpayment is due up front correct?"
Belle nodded trying to push the memories from her mind, "Yes, and they will be done in a few days."
"Wonderful."
"And see if you can find out what color his date's robes are." Belle asked, "Who's he going with by the way? He's on the Gazette with Samantha, maybe he's going with one of her friends. I can ask her to find out."
Augusta snapped her handbag aggressively, "I haven't a clue. He just wrote it was someone he fancied, didn't include a name. I assume young boys don't like telling their grandmothers about their girlfriends."
Belle laughed, "Or mothers. My son certainly wouldn't tell me about anyone he was seeing."
Augusta put her bag on her wrist before turning to leave, "Well, I must be off. I'll send word if I find out what color she's wearing."
Belle waved and thanked her as she left. She took a deep breath before finishing her sketch and taking the page out of the book. She'd start on those dress robes tomorrow, for now she needed to think of something for Sammy.
Belle must have started and stopped designing several times in the hours before finally giving up and heading home for the day.
Belle found herself shaking her head and groaning as she slumped onto the sofa beside her husband. He had the Hogwarts Gazette in one hand and a beer in the other. The headline said something about library books being desecrated.
Ed put down his copy of the newspaper and wrapped his arm around her shoulders instead. "Jack isn't in more trouble is he?"
"I mean probably, but this time it's Sammy." Belle shook her head.
"Oh, she isn't joining another rebellion is she?" Ed laughed proudly. "Or trashing hallways, or putting nufflers into teacher's rooms?"
"No, but she is going to the Slug Club Christmas party."
"They don't dress like slugs right?" Ed asked with a raised eyebrow and a sip of his beer.
"Oh hush Ed!" Belle nudged his shoulder. "I do have to design something for her though, and I haven't the slightest idea what to make for her."
"Just make her something cute." Ed shrugged.
"She's practically a woman, I don't think I can slide by with cute anymore." Belle laughed.
Ed shook his head, "Don't remind me. Are you struggling because your mind is on Jack?"
"Yes." Belle admitted, "I'm just so confused by his actions. He seemed so studious last year, barely a shred of trouble. I mean he's also been quieter."
"Is anyone complaining about that?" Ed asked.
Belle answered quickly, "Yes, I am. He's been sneaking out of the castle. Also, his theorems don't bother me. He's just intelligent."
"You've got to admit his opinions can be exhausting." Ed admitted, "I feel like he hates me for existing."
Belle crossed her arms, "I'm sure if he hates either of us, it's me, probably, for marrying you. He'd be a regular Brenna then."
"Well, he isn't a Brenna." Ed said with a small grunt.
"No, whether he likes it or not, he's a Fyre." Belle smiled and leaned into her husband's shoulder. "Our children are Fyre children."
Belle looked over to their fireplace where little flames were dancing. As she'd married Ed, their family didn't have family crests or family colors to fall back on for her to use in their clothing. However, what they did have was a name, Fyre. It didn't mean what one would think of course, many associated it with fire in a traditional sense. However when Belle had married Ed, she'd learned her new family name meant free.
Belle had risked and given up so much to afford her children freedom. Freedom to be who they were and to express themselves.
She'd come up with something for her daughter, she always did. Something that looked like the passionate and creative woman she was free to be.
March 12th, 1972
Belle pulled the fabric surrounding the bleachers back and felt a large smile grow on her face as she looked around. Alice and Gideon weren't kidding. It really was quite a shindig.
There were blue streamers and bunting everywhere. There was a large sign with the words, Happy Birthday Belle written across it.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone yelled as she came into sight.
"Thanks." Belle felt blood rush to her cheeks.
There was a buffet of candy in the corner and someone handed her a Butterbeer.
She heard the needle hit the base of a record and she recognized Fleetwood Mac, but she hadn't heard the songs before.
She eventually made it over to Frank beside the record player who Belle supposed was trying to dance to it. He stiffly swayed side to side. She asked him the name of the album, because it wasn't one she'd heard.
"The newest, it's called Bare Trees. It was released a few days ago." Frank bragged at her. "Gideon insisted I find a way to smuggle it in."
Belle looked over to Gideon who was laughing with Marlene and Sybill. She felt blush hit her cheeks, "He knows they are my favorite. You do have a talent for smuggling Frank."
"My mum doesn't like music like this. Muggle or normal, so I've become quite skilled at it." Frank explained nervously putting the record on. "I can't wait to get my own home and then I can listen to as much music as I'd like."
Belle understood that at least, "My parents don't like muggle music or muggle anything."
"Yes, your family does seem that type. My mum has no such excuse, she just doesn't like loudness." Frank nodded before looking her over. "So I must ask, did you make your outfit this evening?"
Belle nodded looking down at her dress. It was a light blue dress with little golden fish swimming at the bottom. She wanted to celebrate her status as a Pisces. "Yes, I had some leftover fabric from the dresses I made for the party."
"I could just tell you had made it." He said with a smirk, "I've always been able to tell the homemade sort of things. There's nothing quite like it."
Git, he's a damn git, Belle thought to herself. He may have meant to compliment her work, but he had insulted her in the process. Belle sipped her Butterbeer so as to not give a cruel response.
"I really liked Alice's dress." He complimented, "You did a fine job on that one too. Like I said, handmade is quite the superior."
Belle nodded again, wanting to go and find someone else to talk to. She scanned the party to find someone else she could talk to.
"I have noticed she isn't talking to me." Frank continued talking, "You seem close to her, did I do something wrong? I don't think I did, I'm normally completely cordial to her."
Belle crossed her arms, "It's not my business Frank."
"I'm sure it isn't, but I'm not quite sure if I ever say the correct thing, and she is quite my superior in every possible way. I would not want to lose her friendship." Frank pressed.
Belle couldn't remember him ever complimenting anyone so genuinely who wasn't himself.
"It could have something to do with the fact she found out she has a secret admirer." Belle said in suggestion. "Someone who probably seeks something more than friendship."
Frank scanned the room. His eyes were wide as he asked, "She does?"
Belle nodded, "The person sent her a valentine and she has put quite a bit of focus into discovering who it is."
"She has?"
"Of course."
"Who does she suspect?" He asked urgently.
"She has a full list of people." Belle chuckled feeling slightly cruel as the words left her mouth, "But feel relieved, I do not believe you are on the list."
Frank looked beyond shocked and his words did not match his expression, "Oh, yes, what a relief. I mean why would I be on that list?"
He walked away quickly in Alice's direction. Alice was talking with several people and she seemed to not notice his presence. He wasn't as oblivious as previously suspected.
"I see you have had a realization." Gideon said wrapping his arms around Belle's waist from behind. He kissed her cheek.
"I think I know who sent Alice the valentine." Belle answered.
"Hmm, I can neither confirm nor deny, but honestly they are both oblivious." Gideon chuckled into her ear. "Maybe, if they can get passed that, they can get together."
Belle laughed heartily throwing her head back.
"Good party though?" Gideon asked.
"The very best!" Belle turned around and kissed him.
The party was quite enjoyable. There were a few party games and a few couples started dancing as the record changed.
Everyone was having a great time. Belle was talking to Andromeda and Ted, when Alice grabbed Belle by the arm and pulled her away.
"You won't believe what just happened!" Alice exclaimed with a bit of a twirl.
Belle giggled, having a decent idea what had happened.
"Frank asked me to take a walk with him." Alice began giggling. "Alone! Completely! He said he wanted to tell me something!"
"I thought you were over him." Belle feigned.
"Oh well, when you've fancied someone as long as I have, you tend to be forgiving." Alice said as her ears turned red.
Belle smiled, "Well it's about time he asked to speak with you."
"You are quite right. I mean it may have something to do with the early Auror training, but he would have asked for me in a group." Alice was talking very quickly.
"Early Auror training?" Belle asked, her heart entering her throat. Didn't Cissy mention something about that?
"Yes, myself, Gideon, Frank and Marlene, we all get to start our training early and so this will be our last Hogwarts year." Alice revealed, "Because of the war, they want more Aurors. I mean I was already accepted early, but I actually get to go ahead and start."
"What?" Belle turned to look at Gideon, he hadn't told her that.
"Yeah, Gideon didn't tell you?" Alice asked nervously,
Belle shook her head and felt a slight rage start in her stomach. "He didn't tell me anything."
Belle decided not to show her real rage at the moment, there would be time later. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go with Frank!"
"But it's your birthday, I'd hate to leave early." Alice insisted.
Belle put both of her hands on Alice's shoulders, "You've only been in love with him since first year, get out of here. Your friendship is never in question."
Alice kissed Belle on the cheek, this time Belle tried not to reel back.
Alice proclaimed, "I do love you most dear Belle. You are quite my sister."
Belle felt slightly guilty as Alice skipped away to Frank who was waiting for her. He had a big dopey smile on his face and the two seemed exceptionally happy. Belle however, felt like she was betraying her friend by not telling her of her plans. Would she see Alice ever again after she left, especially since her education was being shortened.
Belle later asked Gideon about the early Auror training as they took a slight seclusion together in an empty area of the bleachers after the party. "Why did I have to find out from Alice that you weren't coming back?"
"I didn't want you in danger. It's precarious stuff Belle." He explained grabbing her hand. "I thought it was better if you could feign ignorance if your family ever asked questions. Please Belle, don't be cross with me."
He lightly pulled her closer to him and wrapped her in his arms.
"We all have our secrets Belle." He whispered softly into her ear.
Belle knew she couldn't be too angry, she'd never told him about her plans to escape or her ability as an Animagus. She'd never considered what her leaving would mean to him.
She reached up and kissed his lips, "I know."
He wrapped an arm around her and touched her chin. "Come with me. When I finish school, you can live with me in a flat in London."
Although a nice sentiment, it seemed rather unrealistic to consider running away with him. "And have my brother's put a bigger target on your back? I can't do that Gideon."
"Yes, you can, I'd protect you." He went to kiss her again. "My family would help."
She pulled away from his kiss, she couldn't put him or his family in danger, she slightly lied, "Gideon, I'd like to finish school."
"I'll wait for you." He insisted before kissing her. "Then after you graduate you can come with me."
Belle had no intention of it, she was a Brenna and they would come and find her. She wasn't a safe person to be with. She saw the hope in his sweet brown eyes, she wanted to say yes to him, "Can I think about it?"
"Of course darling." He smiled. "I wouldn't want to push you into anything. Things are just dangerous right now, and it's only going to get worse. I'm just trying to think about the future."
Belle nodded and just decided she wouldn't tell him of her plans. It could put him in real danger if he know. She was going to leave and she knew it would hurt him.
"I love you Belle." He confessed.
Belle swore in her mind, that certainly complicated things.